Help Scott H. Biram Rock Again: Hand Surgery & Recovery Fund

Hey everybody! It’s your ol’ buddy, Scott H. Biram, aka The Dirty Old One Man Band. As many of you know, I’m a professional road warrior musician. I’ve been solely touring for a living for 27 years as of 2024. You fans, friends, and family have been the backbone of my career, and I love every one of you, and you truly are what keeps me goin’!

In December, I have an extensive hand surgery scheduled on my left fretting hand. Without this, it will only be a matter of time before I can’t play guitar at all anymore! Which would inevitably mean I would have to stop playing shows, touring, and making records! I’ve been dealing with severe chronic pain in my hand due to basal thumb osteoarthritis for years now, but it’s finally starting to become unbearable. This is because my lower joint in the base of my thumb no longer has cartilage between the bones, and the bones are just grinding together any time I move them. I’ve been playing guitar seriously for almost 37 years now, and this has just worn it all away! I was getting a few cortisone injections a year for a while and playing through the pain, but now my thumb doesn’t even sit in the right place in my hand anymore, and I’m in pain all day, every day. It’s inflamed and swollen all the time now. It basically feels like I have broken bones in my hand, which is not too far from what is actually the case. I basically have a diseased joint in my hand that is slowly dying. I actually have arthritis in other parts of my hand, but this particular joint is becoming debilitating.

I’m going to grit my teeth through one more tour in November ‘24, then with your help, it will be off to the hand surgeon. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to work or play shows for about 5-6 months. I plan on pushing through the physical therapy and hoping not to forget everything I’ve learned on guitar lately! I’m a tough mofo, so hopefully, with the doc’s permission, I’m going to TRY to do 1-2 local shows after a couple of months or so and see what I’m capable of. We are currently booking dates in late April or May, and I’m shooting for that as a goal to be back at it. Fingers crossed, I should be good by then. (Well, hopefully, none of my fingers are actually crossed. Haha.)

Anyway, since I won’t have any significant income from Dec through April, I’m obviously worried we won’t have enough income in our household to cover these surgery, medical bills, and our regular bills either. Like many of you, the pandemic wiped me out in 2020. I did not receive any unemployment or the like during that time, and I’ve been struggling to keep my head above water ever since. I basically lived on credit during that time like many others and am still struggling to catch up on that. Anyway, I know there are a ton of good people that need money out there right now, and I’ve tried to wait this out as long as I could, so as not to overlap anyone else’s fundraising. Unfortunately, there is really never a convenient time to beg for money. I really, really hate that I’m having to do this, but I could really use your help now. I simply can’t do this on my own. The bottom line is, if I don’t get this surgery, my musical journey is going to be pretty much over. This music thing is what I have been doing for over 30 years now, and I planned on doing it for the rest of my life.

If you are a fan of my music, or just a friend, or even a stranger who’s feeling generous, it would mean the world to me if you can help me get this surgery and get through these several months of recovery. I want to be back out there as soon as possible, rockin’ and rollin’ with y’all. Please consider chippin’ in. Thanks! Y’all are the best fans, friends, and family a guy could ask for. Love all of you!